Swapping Your Kitchen Essentials for Eco-Friendly Counterparts

Today, being eco-friendly is something that’s becoming increasingly more important to people around the world. And when it comes to reducing your carbon footprint and making choices that are better for the environment, there’s no better place to start than at home. And, the kitchen is the heart of the home, with many environmentally friendly swaps that can be made starting from today. Here are a number of simple things that you can do to make your kitchen better for the environment.

#1. Reduce Plastic Use:

One of the best things that you can do for an eco-friendlier kitchen is to reduce the amount of single-use plastic that you are using. Every day, you may be using products such as zip-lock bags, trash can liners, single-use plastic straws, and many other popular kitchen products that are so easy to go through quickly without even thinking about the massive impact that it is having on the environment. And, with more single-use plastic items ending up in the ocean compared to anything else, it’s an important change that we need to be making. Instead, swap to re-usable containers made from silicon or metal, invest in a metal straw or use paper ones, and if you need to use trash can liners, it’s worth investing in the bio-degradable options.

#2. Reduce Paper Use:

In addition to reducing the amount of single-use plastic that you’re using in your kitchen, it’s worth cutting down on the amount of paper that you’re wasting, too. It might not be something that crosses your mind when you’re using paper towels to keep your sideboards clean, but billions of trees around the world are cut down every year in order to keep paper in production. By doing your bit and switching to reusable alternatives such as cloth rags and towels, you can help to reduce the demand for single-use paper. You could even cut up old sweaters and t-shirts to make rags for cleaning, recycling your own clothes and helping to tackle the issue of fast fashion too.

#3. Ditch Chemical Cleaning Supplies:

Keeping your kitchen clean is an absolute must, but sadly, many popular kitchen cleaning products are filled with toxic chemicals that are not only harmful to the environment, but your health as well. The good news is that thanks to the growing need for eco-friendly alternatives, there are several great toxin-free, environmentally friendly cleaning soaps that you can buy, or you could even go one step further and make your own using white vinegar and essential oils.

#4. Use Long-Lasting Products:

When it comes to buying kitchen essentials such as serving trays and chopping boards, it’s worth investing a little more into products that are going to last you for a long time. Instead of buying items that you’re going to need to replace after a short time, it’s worth spending a little bit more money initially on items made from long-lasting durable materials that you’ll be able to rely on for years. Walnut is a great wood for trays, and it’s definitely worth investing in as you’ll be able to use them for years to come rather than replacing them often.

#5. Filter and Drink Tap Water:

Finally, don’t waste your money and harm the environment getting expensive bottled water for drinking. A simple Brita filter can clean all your tap water and make sure that it’s just as nice to drink as the bottled stuff, without the added harm to the environment. All you need to do is fill your Brita with water in the evening and pop it in the fridge overnight for cold, fresh water all day long. What environmentally friendly changes are happening in your kitch

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